The Realization Of Translator’s Subjectivity In The English Versions Of Di Zi Gui From The Perspective Of Foreignizing Translation

The translated version of Chinese classics is one of the best mediums for the world to understand Chinese culture,which is why the work of translating classics into foreign languages is so important.The moral and ethical values enshrined in Chinese classics constitute the core value system of traditional Chinese culture,and their dialectical affirmation is conducive to building local cultural confidence.The formal and linguistic features of canonical texts also highlight the charm and value of traditional Chinese culture,and are of practical significance in presenting China’s image to the outside world.Currently,as China’s comprehensive national power continues to grow,the perspective of “foreignization” is more common in the translation of Chinese classics,and most scholars focus on the translation of culturally loaded words in versions,trying to summarize effective foreignizing strategies.However,this has led to the scholarly application of the theory of foreignizing translation at the textual level,with little attention paid to the cultural position of equal exchange advocated in the deeper connotation of this theory,as well as the issue of translator’s subjectivity in versions marginalized by Anglo-American culture.Based on this situation,this research is inspired by Laurence Venuti’s theory of foreignizing translation,and is encouraged by the theory’s examination of cultural hegemony,its emphasis on marginalized heterogeneous discourses and its demand to change the invisibility of contemporary translator and the transparency of translation.The ethics of difference and the highlighting of“difference” by translators are used to break shackles of cultural bullying,to make the translator visible,underlining the dignity of the translator through the embodiment of multiculturalism.In this research,four representative English versions of the Chinese classic Di Zi Gui,which was created in the Qing Dynasty,are selected: Canons for Disciples(2016)of Zhao Yanchun,Dizi Gui: Dos and Don’ts for Children(2010)of Gu Danke,Di Zi Gui(Students’ Rules)(1989)of Feng Xinming and Standards for Students(1995)of American Buddhist Text Translation Society.Based on the theory of foreignizing translation,this research starts from translator’s subjectivity of the four versions,and the comparative study method runs through the whole process of the research,supplemented by the qualitative analysis method,inductive generalization,a combination of synchronic and diachronic analysis and descriptive study method.At the macro level,the idea of foreignization of the four translators in terms of material selection,language,culture and genre is mastered.And at the micro level,this research explores the ways of realizing translator’s subjectivity.The following questions are attempted to be answered by dividing the version into the main text and para-text:(1)How do the four translators achieve the“foreignization in material selection” ?(2)In terms of main text’s form of English versions,which kind of form do the four translators adopt respectively ?(3)In terms of main text’s content of English versions,how do the four translators interpret the original culture of “filial piety and fraternal duty” ?(4)In terms of para-text of English versions,which para-textual elements do the four translators use? The main findings are described below:Firstly,the translator’s subjectivity can be realized through material selection for translation from the perspective of foreignizing translation.The four translators all choose to translate the Chinese classic Di Zi Gui,which is relegated to a minority by the Anglo-American mainstream culture,and realize the foreignization in material selection under the principle of “minoritizing translation” advocated by Venuti in the first place with their own resistance strategies to the target language,making translation a place to show and study the “difference”.Secondly,the translator’s subjectivity can be realized through the main text’s form from the perspective of foreignizing translation.The four translators of different identities,influenced by their own academic claims or translation purposes,intentionally highlight heterogeneous components of the source language in the aspect of form,reflecting their respects for foreign literature under the ethics of difference.Among them,Zhao is a famous contemporary Chinese translator,and his version adopts “trisyllabic couplets”.Gu is a well-known Chinese scholar,and his version is full of four-line stanzas,in which “poetic translation” is adopted.Feng is a Chinese-American scholar,and his version is the combined translation with multi-form.The version of American Buddhist Text Translation Society,led by the Buddhist monk Master Hsuan Hua,constructs lines and stanzas,which uses explanatory translation within stanzas,and makes greater use of imperative sentences based on the statutory nature of the original text.Thirdly,the translator’s subjectivity can be realized through the main text’s content from the perspective of foreignizing translation.As to the interpretation of the original Confucian idea of filial piety and fraternal duty,including the culture of support and sacrifice,the act of admonition and blind obedience,and the idea of seniors and juniors,the four translators use specific and varied foreignizing strategies to purposefully highlight heterogeneous components of the source language,reflecting their profound understanding of Confucian culture under the ethics of difference.Specifically,all four translators mainly adopt literal translation to convey the information and connotations of the foreign culture,while Zhao’s version is supplemented by strategies of free translation and non-translation,and Gu’s version is supplemented by the strategy of amplification.Fourthly,the translator’s subjectivity can be realized through para-text from the perspective of foreignizing translation.The four translators,who are affected by different internal and external factors,use para-textual elements to highlight the heterogeneity of the original text,reflecting their higher degree of subjectivity under the ethics of difference.Among them,Zhao adopts expanded translation,Gu adopts chapter notes,Feng adopts interpretations by web page,and the American translation adopts a list of each stanza’s main idea.The analysis shows that para-textual elements are closely related to the translator’s own cognition and the translator’s comprehension of the original text,indicating that the translator has the multiple intentions,such as strengthening original semantics,reinforcing original form and content characteristics,making up semantics of main text,manifesting the historical and cultural context of the source language,enhancing cultural adaptability,expressing cultural attitudes,cultivating the cultural identity of ethnic Chinese readers,and fulfilling the educational social function of the original text.After a deep understanding and critical analysis of Venuti’s theory of foreignizing translation,this thesis explores the application value of this theory in Chinese-English translation with the help of the existing Di Zi Gui’s English versions.It has highlighted the identity of translators engaged in the project of translating and interpreting Chinese classics,and has improved the status of foreign literary translations,providing useful reference for the translation of ancient Chinese texts including primer classics in the new era,thereby enhancing the international communication power and influence of Chinese culture.